Articulated carrier for power and free conveyor systems



L. J. BISHOP 3,375,790 AR'ilCULATED CARRIER FOR POWER AND FREE CONVEYOR SYSTEMS Aprii 2, 1968 Filed Mafch 14, 1966 INVENTOR. LEONARD 3- OP United States Patent 3,375,790 ARTICULATED CARRIER FOR. POWER AND FREE CONVEYOR SYSTEMS Leonard J. Bishop, Birmingham, Mich., assignor to Mechanical Handling Systems, Inc., Warren, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed Mar. 14, 1966, Ser. No. 534,051 6 Claims. (Cl. 104172) This invention relates to power and free conveyor systems and particularly to carriers for power and free conveyor systems.

In power and free conveyor systems, a conveyor chain having pusher members is adapted to engage carriers and move them along a track which defines a predetermined path. Where the load is relatively large, it is necessary that the carrier have a plurality of trolleys which are interconnected and which Will permit relative motion therebetween to accommodate curves and changes in elevation of the track.

It is an objectof this invention to provide an articulated carrier construction which is eflicient, simple in construction, low in cost, requires a minimum of maintenance, and is self cleaning so that it can be used in corrosive and contaminating environments.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a partly diagrammatic elevational view of a power and free conveyor system embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a part sectional perspective View of a portion of the articulated carrier.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a portion of the carrier shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in FIG. 2.

. Referring to FIG. 1, the carrier embodying the inventi'on is adapted to be used with a conventional power and free conveyor system wherein a chain supported by chain trolleys 10a is guided along a track 11 and includes a plurality of pusher members 12 that are adapted to engage a pusher dog 13 of a carrier 14 to move it along a track 15.

The carrier includes a plurality of trolleys including a leading trolley 16, rear trolley 17 and intermediate trolleys 18.

The pusher dog 13 of the leading trolley 16 may be retractable by a pivotal connection with a lever 19 that is adapted to engage an inclined surface 20 on the rear trolley 1-7 of the preceding carrier to retract the pusher dog and move it out of the path of the pusher member 12. The aforementioned construction is in connection with common and well-known practice as shown, for example, in the patents to Botley 2,324,620 and Rainier 2,619,916.

The trolleys 16, 17, 18 are provided with wheels 21 that engagethe track all in accordance with conventional practice. The trolleys 16, '17, 18 are interconnected by tie bars 22 which are adapted to provide an articulation between successive trolleys. Each tie bar 22 is in the form of an I-beam in cross section as shown in FIG. 2 and has a mounting block 23 on each end thereof. The mounting block 23 is provided with spaced longitudinally extending horizontal openings 24 through which the legs 25 of a U-bolt member 26 are adapted to extend. The ends of the legs 25 are threaded and nuts 27 and lock nuts 28 are threaded thereon to hold the U-shaped member 26 in position. The U-shaped member 26 extends through an opening 29 in a bracket 30 on the trolley which is adjacent the end of the tie bar. The bracket 30 is clamped between plates 31 which in turn are mounted and extend downwardly from the main body of the tolley. C-shaped hooks 62 can be provided on each trolley for supporting the load as is well known.

In operation, as the carrier 14 is moved along the track 15 and either vertical or horizontal variations occur in the track, the loops of the U-bolt member 26 will permit free vertical and horizontal movement between the successive trolleys so that the necessary articulation may occur to accommodate the vertical and horizontal deviations of the track. The construction is self cleaning and therefore can be used in corrosive or contaminating environments such as cleaning systems or chemical treating systems. In order to provide for a more compact design and insure proper clearance between the end of the bracket 30 and the mounting block 23, a generally vertically extending concave surface 33 is provided on the face of the block 23 adjacent the edge of the bracket 30.

I claim:

1. For use in a power and free conveyor system wherein a conveyor having pusher members engages and moves articulated carriers along a track which defines a predetermined path, the combination comprising a plurality of trolleys having track engaging means thereon,

and at least one tie bar between successive trolleys,

said bar having a portion on one end thereof defining a U-shaped loop extending generally horizontally,

the adjacent trolley having an opening therethrough,

the axis of which extends generally horizontally and through which said loop extends and is adapted to move relatively freely relative to said trolley to permit both horizontal and vertical movement of the tie bar relative to the trolley.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said opening on said trolley is defined by a generally vertically extending plate having said opening therein, said opening being circular in cross section.

3. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein the leading and trailing trolleys of said carrier includes means adapted to interengage the trailing and leading trolleys of adjacent carriers, respectively, to cause disengagment from the conveyor of the power and free system.

4. For use in a power and free conveyor system wherein a conveyor having pusher members engages and moves articulated carriers along a track Which defines a pre determined path, the combination comprising a plurality of trolleys having means thereon for engaging a track,

at least one pair of successive trolleys having a tie bar extending therebetween,

each said trolley of said pair including a plurality of spaced plates,

a bracket in the form of a plate clamped between said spaced plates,

said bracket having a generally horizontally extending opening therein,

said tie bar having a U-shaped member mounted on each end thereof,

each said U-shaped member extending generall horizontally and through the opening in said bracket of the adjacent trolley whereby said tie bar may move horizontally and vertically relative to the adjacent trolley. 5. The combination set forth in claim 4 wherein said U-shaped member is formed with threaded ends,

"said tie bar having a mounting block thereon with spaced parallel holes through which the arms of the U-shaped member extend,

said nuts threaded on the ends of said U-shaped memher to hold said U-shaped member in position on said mounting block. 7 t

6. The combination set forth in claim 5 wherein said mounting block has a generally vertically extending con- 5 cave surface on the end thereof adjacent said plate.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,229,645 1/1966 Dehne 104l72 0 ARTHUR L. LA POINT, Primary Examiner.

D. F. WORTH, Assistant Examiner. 

1. FOR USE IN A POWER AND FREE CONVEYOR SYSTEM WHEREIN A CONVEYOR HAVING PUSHER MEMBERS ENGAGES AND MOVES ARTICULATED CARRIERS ALONG A TRACK WHICH DEFINES A PREDETERMINED PATH, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF TROLLEYS HAVING TRACK ENGAGING MEANS THEREON, AND AT LEAST ONE TIE BAR BETWEEN SUCCESSIVE TROLLEYS, SAID BAR HAVING A PORTION ON ONE END THEREOF DEFINING A U-SHAPED LOOP EXTENDING GENERALLY HORIZONTALLY, THE ADJACENT TROLLEY HAVING AN OPENING THERETHROUGH, THE AXIS OF WHICH EXTENDS GENERALLY HORIZONTALLY AND THROUGH WHICH SAID LOOP EXTENDS AND IS ADAPTED TO 